U.S. patent number 5,673,796 [Application Number 08/582,479] was granted by the patent office on 1997-10-07 for gift box with reversible drawer.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Wolverine World Wide, Inc.. Invention is credited to John W. Tulloch.
United States Patent |
5,673,796 |
Tulloch |
October 7, 1997 |
**Please see images for:
( Certificate of Correction ) ** |
Gift box with reversible drawer
Abstract
A packaging box convertible from a box suitable for retail
display of its contents to a box suitable for a gift box. The
packaging box includes a sleeve and a drawer. The sleeve has a
window opening in its top wall. When the drawer is inserted into
the sleeve in a display mode, the interior of the drawer is visible
through the window opening. When the drawer is inserted into the
sleeve in a gift-box mode, the bottom wall of the drawer blocks the
view of the interior of the packaging box through the window
opening.
Inventors: |
Tulloch; John W. (Malone,
NY) |
Assignee: |
Wolverine World Wide, Inc.
(Rockford, MI)
|
Family
ID: |
24329319 |
Appl.
No.: |
08/582,479 |
Filed: |
January 3, 1996 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
206/769;
206/459.5; 229/116.1; 229/125.125 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D
5/38 (20130101); B65D 5/4204 (20130101); B65D
5/4216 (20130101); B65D 5/425 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B65D
5/42 (20060101); B65D 5/00 (20060101); B65D
5/38 (20060101); B65D 005/38 () |
Field of
Search: |
;206/457,459.5,758,769-774,776,777
;229/125.125,162,116.1,116.5 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
685991 |
|
May 1964 |
|
CA |
|
2625726 |
|
Jul 1989 |
|
FR |
|
Primary Examiner: Foster; Jimmy G.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Warner Norcross & Judd LLP
Claims
The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or
privilege is claimed are defined as follows:
1. A retail packaging box comprising:
a sleeve having a top wall, a bottom wall, a back wall, and two
side walls joined to form a rectangular parallelepiped having an
exterior surface and a flapless open end opposite said back wall,
said top wall defining a window opening, said exterior surface of
said sleeve beating a first complimentary design, said sleeve being
substantially unapertured except for said open end and said window;
and
a drawer having an unapertured bottom wall, a back wall, a front
wall, and two side walls joined to from a rectangular
parallelepiped having an exterior surface, said exterior surface of
said back and bottom walls of said drawer bearing a second
complementary design, said exterior surface of said front wall of
said drawer including product information, said drawer being
movable between a display-box mode, wherein said drawer is inside
said sleeve with said bottom wall of said drawer adjacent to said
bottom wall of said sleeve and said back wall of said drawer
adjacent to said back wall of said sleeve, and a gift-box mode,
wherein said drawer is inside said sleeve with said bottom wall of
said drawer adjacent to said top wall of said sleeve and said front
wall of said drawer adjacent to said back wall of said drawer,
whereby a product within said drawer is visible in the display-box
mode and not visible in the gift-box mode, and further whereby said
information is visible in the display-box mode and not visible in
the gift-box mode, and further whereby visible surfaces of said
sleeve and said drawer in the gift-box mode bear said design.
2. The packaging box of claim 1 wherein a gift tag is placed on the
back wall of the drawer.
3. The packaging box of claim 1 wherein a portion of said second
complimentary design includes a bow visible through said window
when said drawer is in the gift-box mode.
4. A retail box comprising:
a drawer having an open top and an opposite bottom, an interior, an
information end bearing product information, and an opposite end,
said bottom and said opposite end bearing a first design; and
a sleeve including opposite closed and open flapless ends, said
sleeve slidably receiving said drawer within said sleeve through
said open end in either a display orientation wherein said
information end of said drawer is visible through said open sleeve
end, or a gift-box orientation wherein said opposite end of said
drawer is visible through said open sleeve end, said sleeve
defining a window aligned with said open top when said drawer is in
the display orientation, said sleeve bearing a second design
complimentary to said first design, whereby said drawer interior is
visible through said window and said information is visible through
said open sleeve end when said drawer is in the display position,
and further whereby said drawer block said window and said first
design is visible through both said window and said open sleeve end
when said drawer is in the gift-box orientation.
5. The box of claim 4 wherein the first design is the same as the
second design.
6. A retail display and gift box comprising:
a sleeve defining a window, having an open flapless end, and
otherwise being closed, said sleeve including an exterior printed
with a design;
a drawer closely and slidably received within said sleeve through
said open end, said drawer including an open top and otherwise
being closed, said drawer further including a first end bearing
product information and a second end printed with the design, said
drawer being movable between a display position, wherein said open
top is aligned with said window and said first drawer end bearing
said information is exposed through said sleeve open end, and a
gift-box position, wherein said drawer blocks said window and said
second drawer end bearing the design is exposed through said sleeve
open end.
7. A method of packaging a product comprising the steps of:
placing a product inside a drawer having an exterior, a bottom
wall, a back wall, a front wall, and two side walls joined to form
a rectangular-sided polyhedron configuration;
placing information on the exterior front wall of the drawer;
inserting the drawer holding the product inside a sleeve having an
exterior, a top wall, a bottom wall, a back wall, and two side
walls joined to form a rectangular-sided polyhedron configuration,
the top wall defining a window opening, wherein the bottom wall of
the drawer is adjacent to the bottom wall of the sleeve and the
back wall of the drawer is adjacent to the back wall of the
sleeve;
visually displaying the product within the package through the
window opening;
withdrawing the drawer holding the product from the sleeve;
re-inserting the drawer holding the product inside the sleeve,
wherein the bottom wall of the drawer is adjacent to the top wall
of the sleeve, the front wall of the drawer is adjacent to the back
wall of the sleeve, and wherein the product is not visible within
the package.
8. The method of claim 7 further comprising the step of placing a
gift tag on the back wall of the drawer.
9. The method of claim 7 further comprising the step of covering
the sleeve exterior and the drawer back wall exterior with a
gift-wrap design pattern.
10. The method of claim 9 further comprising the step of covering
the bottom wall exterior of the drawer with a gift-wrap design
pattern.
11. The method of claim 9 further comprising the step of covering
with a gift-wrap design pattern a portion of the exterior bottom of
the drawer that is subsequently visible through the window opening
after the step of re-inserting the drawer.
12. The method of claim 11 further comprising the step of covering
the portion with a bow.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a packaging box, and more
particularly to a packaging box that converts from a display box to
a gift box.
It is recognized in the retail marketing art that visually
displaying a product inside its packaging may enhance the retail
sale of that product. This display is often accomplished by placing
the product inside a display box, which is typically a box that has
a window opening, so that the product can be seen within the
package. Usually, the window opening is covered with a transparent
film to protect the package contents.
Customers often want a retailer to gift-wrap a product purchase, so
that the product is hidden in a visually pleasing package when
given to a gift recipient. Ordinarily, the retailer either wraps
the display box with wrapping paper, or repackages the product in a
gift box.
In order to save these gift-wrapping or repackaging expenses,
several display boxes (i.e., packaging boxes with window openings)
are designed to convert to gift boxes that hide a product that has
previously been displayed through the window of the display box.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,955,469 entitled "Convertible
Container" issued Sep. 11, 1990 to Hudspith discloses a one-piece
box that uses a flap system to cover its display window when the
box is used as a gift box. However, for the Hudspith box to remain
in either its gift-box or display-box mode, a tab or tongue of the
flap must remain tucked in a slit in the box.
Another convertible gift-box is described in U.S. Pat. No.
3,357,543 entitled "Display and Gift Box" issued Dec. 12, 1967 to
Taggart, which discloses the use of two display boxes hinged
together in book fashion. The display boxes convert to gift boxes
by closing the "book" so that the window of each display box is
covered by the opposing display box. However, the Taggart invention
is limited to packaging products purchased in multiple units.
Other boxes cover the window opening to protect the package
contents during shipping and handling. For example, U.S. Pat. No.
3,262,559 entitled "Package with Sliding Sleeve" issued Aug. 18,
1964 to Geiger discloses the use of a sliding cardboard sleeve that
does not extend beyond the end of the box when either covering or
uncovering the display box window. The sleeve remains on the box at
all times. The Geiger box has limitations. For example, the length
of the display window is limited to a maximum of half the length of
the display box. Further, because the sleeve can slide from either
covering or uncovering the window opening without extending beyond
the end of the box, the sleeve is less likely to remain secure in
the desired position. Lastly, the use of a sleeve that is a
fraction of the length of the box detracts from the visual
attractiveness of the packaging box.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The aforementioned problems are overcome in the present invention
wherein a convertible packaging box includes a windowed outer
sleeve and an open drawer received within the sleeve. The sleeve is
open at one end to allow the drawer to be slid into the sleeve. The
top of the sleeve includes a window opening. The drawer is open at
its top to allow product to be placed into the drawer.
In the display mode, the drawer is positioned inside the sleeve so
that the interior of the drawer is visible through the window
opening in the sleeve; thus, any product inside the drawer is
visible through the window opening. In the gift-box mode, the
drawer is positioned inside the sleeve so that the interior of the
drawer is not visible through the window opening in the sleeve;
thus, any product inside the sleeve is not visible through the
window opening.
The conversion of the packaging box of the present invention from a
display box to a gift box does not require any manipulation of
flaps, nor does the integrity of the packaging box depend upon the
insertion of flap tabs into slits. Rather, conversion to the
gift-box mode simply requires the withdrawal of the drawer from the
sleeve, the rotation of the sleeve relative to the drawer so that
the sleeve is "upside down," and the re-insertion of the drawer
into the sleeve. The length of the display window opening of the
present invention is not limited by a requirement that the sleeve
remain on the drawer when converting from the display-box mode to
the gift-box mode. Also, once in the gift-box mode, any gift-wrap
design pattern on the exterior of the drawer is visible through the
window opening of the sleeve, thus facilitating an attractive
gift-box exterior decoration.
In a preferred embodiment, the outside of the sleeve is printed
with a gift-wrap design; and at least the drawer portions visible
when in the gift-box mode also are printed with the same design.
Consequently, all exposed portions of the box, when in the gift-box
mode, have a consistent and uniform appearance.
These and other objects, advantages, and features of the invention
will be more readily understood and appreciated by reference to the
detailed description of the preferred embodiment and the
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the packaging box of the present
invention with the sleeve removed from the drawer;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the packaging box in the
display-box mode;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the packaging box with the sleeve
removed from the drawer;
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the packaging box in the gift-box
mode.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
A packaging box constructed in accordance with a preferred
embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the drawings and
generally designated 2. The box includes a sleeve and a drawer
removably received within the sleeve. FIG. 1 shows packaging box 2
with drawer 4 withdrawn from sleeve 6. Drawer 4 and sleeve 6 are
constructed using materials (e.g., cardboard and fiberboard) and
methods that are known in the art.
Drawer 4 is a rectangular parallelepiped (e.g., a box) with bottom
wall 8, back wall 10, front wall 12, and side walls 14 and 16. The
top of drawer 4 is open; or, in other words, drawer 4 does not have
a top wall. Preferably, printed information 18 is attached to (by
way of a label) or printed on the exterior of front wall 12.
Information 18 includes bar code or other information, for example,
to identify the manufacturer and/or the package contents.
Sleeve 6 is also a rectangular parallelepiped with bottom wall 20,
end wall 22, side walls 24 and 26, and top wall 28. The front end
of sleeve 6 is open; or in other words, sleeve 6 does not have a
front end wall. Sleeve 6 is only slightly larger than drawer 4, so
that drawer 4 fits closely and firmly within sleeve 6, yet can be
easily withdrawn from sleeve 6.
Top wall 28 of sleeve 6 defines a window or window opening 30.
While a rectangular window is shown, the window may be of any
shape, for example, to highlight a feature of a product within box
2. Sometimes, this window opening 30 is covered with a transparent
film, as is known in the art, so that the contents of packaging box
2 are protected from dust and dirt, but still visible through
window opening 30.
FIG. 2 shows packaging box 2 in the display-box mode, with drawer 4
positioned inside sleeve 6. The bottom wall 8 of the drawer 4 is
adjacent to the bottom wall of the sleeve 6 (not visible), and the
back wall 10 of the drawer 4 is adjacent to the back wall 10 of the
sleeve 6 (not visible). Since the length of sleeve 6 is the same as
the length of drawer 4, sleeve 6 fully covers the sides of drawer
4, leaving the end wall 12 of drawer 4 exposed. Consequently, the
information 18 on the end of the drawer 4 is exposed, providing
needed information to the consumer and retailer. The interior of
drawer 4 is visible through window opening 30; thus, a product (not
shown) within drawer 4 is visible through window opening 30.
FIG. 4 shows the box in the gift-box mode. To convert the packaging
box from the display-box mode shown in FIG. 2 to the gift-box mode
(discussed below), the sleeve 6 is removed from the drawer 4; the
sleeve is rotated 180 degrees, turning the sleeve upside down
relative to the drawer; the drawer is rotated 180 degrees relative
to the sleeve so that the information 18 faces the back wall 22 of
sleeve 6; and the sleeve is placed back onto the drawer so that the
bottom wall of the drawer is adjacent to the top wall of the
sleeve. FIG. 3 shows the packaging box 2 of the present invention
prior to the placement of sleeve 6 onto drawer 4 to convert the
packaging box to the gift-box mode. The exterior of the bottom wall
8 of the drawer 4 faces the same direction as the top wall 28 of
the sleeve 6. The information 18 on the exterior of the front wall
12 of drawer 4 faces the back wall 22 of sleeve 6, as shown in FIG.
3.
In one aspect of the present invention, drawer 4 contains a gift
tag 32 attached to or printed on the exterior of back wall 10 of
drawer 4. The gift tag 32 may contain typical prompters such as
"To: " and "From: ."
FIG. 4 shows the packaging box 2 of the present invention in the
gift-box mode, with drawer 4 positioned inside sleeve 6. The bottom
side 8 of drawer 4 is adjacent to the top side 28 of sleeve 6, and
the back wall 10 of drawer 4 is visible through the open front of
sleeve 6. Again, since the length of sleeve 6 is the same as the
length of drawer 4, once drawer 4 is fully inserted into the
sleeve, sleeve 6 covers the exterior of drawer 4, except for the
exterior of back wall 10 of drawer 4. A portion of the exterior of
bottom wall 8 of drawer 4 is visible through window opening 30. The
interior of drawer 4 is not visible through window opening 30,
since bottom wall 8 of the drawer 4 blocks the view. A piece of
adhesive tape (not shown) can be used to secure drawer 4 in its
fully inserted position within sleeve 6 during the gift-box
mode.
Preferably, the exterior of sleeve 6 is covered or printed with a
gift-wrap design pattern. Also preferably, the exterior portions of
drawer 4 that are visible in the gift-box mode are covered or
printed with a matching or visually compatible gift wrap design
pattern. In FIG. 4, these visible exterior portions of drawer 4 are
the exterior of back wall 10 of drawer 4, and the exterior portion
of bottom wall 8 of drawer 4 that is visible through window opening
30. In another aspect, the exterior portion of bottom wall 8 of
drawer 4 that is visible through window opening 30 has a decorative
or simulated bow 34 printed on or attached to it.
The above descriptions are those of preferred embodiments of the
invention. Various alterations and changes can be made without
departing from the spirit and broader aspects of the invention as
defined in the claims, which are to be interpreted in accordance
with the principles of patent law, including the doctrine of
equivalents.
* * * * *